Abstract: A spring-loaded ball valve includes a spring, a first pin, a second pin, and a handle. The spring is configured to apply pressure to the first pin and second pin when the ball valve is in both the fully open and fully closed positions. The spring applies maximum torque when the ball valve is in the fully open or fully closed position to ensure the valve remains in the fully open or fully closed position.

Abstract: A spring-loaded ball valve includes a spring, a first pin, a second pin, and a handle. The spring is configured to apply pressure to the first pin and second pin when the ball valve is in both the fully open and fully closed positions. The spring applies maximum torque when the ball valve is in the fully open or fully closed position to ensure the valve remains in the fully open or fully closed position.

Abstract: An adjustable drive mechanism, which may be used to control the elevation angle of a telescope or antenna, is disclosed. The adjustable drive mechanism can include a base plate configured to couple with a support structure and having a first spherical portion facing away from the support structure. In addition, the adjustable drive mechanism can include a gear box having a pinion gear to interface with a driven gear of a telescope or antenna, and a housing in support of the pinion gear and including a second spherical portion configured to interface with the first spherical portion of the base plate. The first spherical portion and the second spherical portion can be movable relative to one another in three rotational degrees of freedom to facilitate alignment and positioning of the pinion gear relative to the driven gear.

Abstract: An adjustable drive mechanism, which may be used to control the elevation angle of a telescope or antenna, is disclosed. The adjustable drive mechanism can include a base plate configured to couple with a support structure and having a first spherical portion facing away from the support structure. In addition, the adjustable drive mechanism can include a gear box having a pinion gear to interface with a driven gear of a telescope or antenna, and a housing in support of the pinion gear and including a second spherical portion configured to interface with the first spherical portion of the base plate. The first spherical portion and the second spherical portion can be movable relative to one another in three rotational degrees of freedom to facilitate alignment and positioning of the pinion gear relative to the driven gear.

Abstract: A drive gear includes a plurality of internal radial channels extending between the axial bore and the periphery of the gear, and an axial bore includes a lubricant distribution structure therein to provide lubrication where the teeth of the drive gear mesh with the teeth of a gear driven by the drive gear.

Abstract: A drive gear includes a plurality of internal radial channels extending between the axial bore and the periphery of the gear, and an axial bore includes a lubricant distribution structure therein to provide lubrication where the teeth of the drive gear mesh with the teeth of a gear driven by the drive gear.

Abstract: A coupling including a ring member attached to a housing, the ring member having a through-hole and a ring axis; a body connected to the ring member by a pair of yielding but axially inextensible members preventing rotation of the body about the ring axis and preventing movement of the body in the direction of the axes of the inextensible members; and flexure plates which allow displacement of the ring member with respect to the housing in the direction of the axes of the inextensible members to thereby allow the body five degrees of freedom of movement with respect to the housing but not rotation about the ring axis.

Abstract: A coupling device includes first and second relatively rotating members mounted about a common axis and first and second lines fixed between the first and second members. The first line is adapted to wrap around the first member in a first direction and around the second member in a second direction, opposite the first direction, the second line is adapted to wrap around the first member in the second direction and around the second member in the first direction. A guide is revolvably mounted to the first and second members for translating the first and second lines between the first member and the second member as the first and second members rotate relative to each other.

Abstract: A production circuit tuning tool consisting of a cover and a number of feed-through, gold-tipped probes that adjust the performance of an underlying circuit. The probes are positioned in the cover so that they may act as temporary jumpers between the trace wiring and tuning patches on the circuit substrate. The portion of the probe that bridges the patches comprises a slender nonconductive plunger of low dielectric constant material having a gold plated tip. Once the proper combination of jumpers is determined, the tuning tool cover is removed, permanent jumpers are soldered into place and a regular production cover is installed.

Abstract: A counterbalance mechanism for negating the force of gravity when moving a display cabinet shelf up or down. The mechanism has a torsion spring counterbalance on a shaft extending the width of the shelf and gears at each end of the shaft which engage travelling rack gears attached beneath each end of the shelf. The shelf includes integral guide rails rolling on four bearings attached to the stationary frame of the cabinet. The use of spiral gears compensates for the spring torque variation and provides constant tangential gear force on the shelf regardless of the vertical position of the shelf. Having gears at each side of the moving shelf joined by a common shaft minimizes side-to-side tilting.

Abstract: An acceleration-sensitive safety brake having two semi-cylindrical flyweights in a single plane, connected near the geometric center of their semi-circular cross-section to eccentric pivot pins protruding from a rotating hub for limiting the acceleration of an apparatus. The flyweights are held in a centered position during normal operation by the force of a helical spring acting on split halves of semicylindrical cavities in each of the adjacent faces of the flyweights. The flyweights are located in cylindrical hole of a fixed housing which is concentric with the rotating hub. Rapid angular acceleration of the hub applies both a rotational and translational motion to the flyweights. Whenever the pivot pins apply a force to the flyweights which is greater than the force exerted by the centering spring, the flyweights move in opposite directions, relative to each other, and push against the fixed housing creating a braking action.